Obed Sullivan

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Obed Benjamin Sullivan, born January 17, 1968 in Gulfport, MS, was a heavyweight boxer. Nicknamed "The Fighting Marine", Sullivan was at times a highly-ranked heavyweight who fought many significant fighters of his era.

Sullivan turned pro in 1992 and accumulated a 28-1-1 record with an International Boxing Federation intercontinental belt and wins over the likes of Garing Lane, Levi Billups, James Gaines, and Marion Wilson, setting up a bout with fellow rising prospect Hasim Rahman in 1997 on HBO. Sullivan held his own and lost a majority decision, but built up credibility as a worthy heavyweight.

After the loss to Rahman, Sullivan began 1998 by knocking out 33-1 Keith McKnight, but then would be stopped in the ninth round after a tough battle with towering undefeated contender Michael Grant. He was then matched against the veteran fringe contender Jesse Ferguson. Sullivan was outboxed and outpointed easily by the crafty 40 year old.

Things went downhill in 1999, losing a split decision to Derrick Jefferson, and travelling to Germany for a WBO heavyweight title challenge to Vitali Klitschko, where Sullivan quit on his stool after nine rounds.

It looked completely over in 2000 when the heavy hitting David Tua blew away an uninterested looking Sullivan in some 60 seconds, although he redeemed himself somewhat later in the year giving Larry Donald a stern argument before being decked in the last round and salvaging a draw.

Sullivan has not boxed since 2004.